Kiwi Caterpillar

Happy Saturday!
This isn't too much of a recipe, but, just a fun, healthy, way for kids to eat some fruits and veggies and get a little treat with some licorice.
My mom visited last week and she helped the kids make these cute caterpillars. They are pretty simple:
Slice up kiwi for the body, blueberries for the eyes, licorice for the legs and a leaf of lettuce round it out for the
Enjoy!
Have a good weekend everyone :)

{Crock Pot} Cheesy Sausage Casserole

With the weather getting a bit cooler, here is a hearty, filling casserole  that will fit perfectly into your menu on a fall day.  This is a no-brainer recipe. Just toss it all into the ole' slow cooker and go about your day. You get your meat, veggies and potatoes all in one dish.  So simple and tasty.

   

Adapted From

Ingredients:

3 large potatoes, peeled and diced

2 packages smoke sausage, browned and sliced into small pieces

10oz bag of frozen vegetables

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1 can cream of celery soup

Directions:

Spray crock pot with non stick cooking spray.  Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then, pour into crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

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Banana Chocolate Brownies

I know, everybody is in pumpkin-mode when it comes to food blogs.  Honestly, we are not huge pumpkin eaters.  Here and there. But, not over the top.  Now, bananas we like. And brownies? We are kinda fanatical. Mr. Plain is a primo  boxed brownie baker.  I think he lived on brownies and Kraft Mac n Cheese in college. So, he is pretty happy when I make either.  Last week, my mother brought me three boxes of brownie mix.  Three.  They were on sale at her grocery store, so, she grabbed a bunch and gave me and my sisters a few each.  Isn't she a great mom?   I made one box the standard way.  The next, a bit of a switch up. Bananas! Yep! These are so moist, chewy and have a nice banana flavor to them.  Topped off with some peanut butter frosting..these are heaven.

Now..what to do with the third box???

Ingredients:

for brownies

1-18.3oz box of fudge brownie mix (for 13 x 9 pan)

1 egg

1/3 cup vegtable  oil

1/4 cup water

2 medium size bananas, mashed

for frosting:

1-1/2 cup powder sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

5 TBSP milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 13 x 9 baking pan with non stick cooking spray.  Mix brownie mix, egg, oil, water and bananas. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake according to box directions ( about 30mins) or until toothpick comes out clean.

Mix ingredients for frosting until well combined and frost on cooled brownies.

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Ravioli Lasagna

Don't you love when you try out a new recipe and everything works?  It's easy to make, doesn't cost a small fortune to buy the ingredients, turns out perfectly lovely and then...your family loves it?!  That's what happened with this dish at our house.  It's so simple to make and is easy on your budget.   It taste great and with a side of garlic bread..you have yourself a whole meal.

Adapted From

Ingredients:
20oz bag of frozen ravioli (any flavor will do)
1-1/4 cup spaghetti sauce
10oz box of frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (optional)
8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 8in baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Spoon approx 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce on to the bottom of the dish. Add a layer of ravioli on top of it. Sprinkle spinach, then half of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers with mozzarella being on top.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake for additional 10 minutes of until cheese is bubbling. Let it sit for 10 minutes before cutting.

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Plum Almond Cake

 

My lovely, sister in law made this cake last week and shared it on her Facebook page.  She is a true food lover and only uses fresh ingredients ( mostly from her own garden ) to do her cooking and baking.  I do wish we lived closer, so, we could chow down together on her creations.  But, she is way off in the Pacific Northwest and alas, I am here in the Midwest.  But, when we do together, it is always fun to chat about the lovely family we both married in to ( she is married to Mr Plain's brother ) and now, food!

{a side note, she does not have the original source of the recipe, it was given to her by a friend, but, the photo is hers. }

Here is the tasty recipe she is sharing!

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) sunflower or vegetable oil, plus more for the pan (I use softened butter)
* 1 cup (5 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan (I use 2.5 oz gf flour + 2.5 oz cornmeal)
* 1/2 cup (2 ounces) almond meal or almond flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) half-and-half or whole milk
* Finely grated zest and juice of 1 large lemon
* 1 cup (8 ounces) sugar, plus 2 tablespoons (I cut the sugar by half with sweet plums or pluots)
* 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
* 7 to 9 plums (any variety), , halved and pitted but not peeled
* 1/4 cup (1 ounce) sliced almonds
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

Diretions

* 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil an 8- or 9-inch springform pan. Dust the pan with flour and tap out the excess.
* 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, almond meal, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the oil, egg, half-and-half, lemon juice and zest, the 1 cup (8 ounces) sugar, and the almond extract. Whisk to blend thoroughly. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and whisk until just combined.
* 3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Arrange the plum halves, cut side up, on top of the batter. In a bowl, combine the almonds, the 2 tablespoons sugar, and the butter and mix well. Dot the almond topping over the cake.
* 4. Bake the cake until the topping is golden brown and a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes. (If using an 8-inch pan, you may need to bake it longer, being careful to cover the outer edges of the cake with a strip of foil if they begin to brown.) Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Remove the ring from the pan and place the cake on a serving platter. Cut into wedges and serve warm or, if you can wait, at room temperature.

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{Crock Pot} Asian Pork

Updated 10/22/12.. a little clearer picture and a instead of angel hair pasta, serve with white rice and veggies on the side.

I am undecided about my picture for this recipe.  For some reason, any type of noodly, Asian dish, I have a tough time getting a good photo.  I fiddled with it quite alot with my new photo obsession.. PicMonkey.  (If you haven't tried it..do it. It's free and fun.You will be marking, changing and going a little crazy with every picture you take).  So, pardon my picture if you think it looks a bit funky.

Anyhoo..here is another tasty crock pot recipe for you guys. A bit of a change for us {not chicken!} and with the noodles and veggies it makes a nice, healthy meal.

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless pork chops ( I used a thin cut)

1/2 cup hoisen sauce

1/4 cup soy sauce

3-4 TBSP honey

2 TBSP corn starch

8oz angel hair pasta,cooked

1-2 cups cooked vegetables of your choice

Directions:

Spray crock pot with non stick cooking spray.  Place pork chops in pot.  Mix hoisen sauce, soy sauce and honey in a mixing bowl.  Pour over pork chops.  Cover and cook on slow for 5- 1/2  hours.  Remove pork from pot.  Add corn starch to liquid in pot.  Stir to thicken.  Cut up or shred pork and place back in crock pot.  Coat with sauce mixture.  Cook for an additional 30 minutes.

Remove from crock pot and mix with pasta and vegetables.

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Apple Cinnamon Bars with Cinnamon Glaze

I think we can officially say fall has arrived.  It is suppose to 60 degrees and rainy today. (Two days ago, it was 88 degrees, gotta love the Midwest!)  Apple and pumpkin season are in full swing in our area.  Well, apple season is a bit sluggish due to the crazy weather that Mother Nature brought the past few months.  Frost in April, then, 108 degrees in June.  Apparently, not great apple growing weather. But, that doesn't mean we can't still make some tasty apple desserts. Like these bars..they are so yummy. They will vanish very quickly, so, be prepared to make them again or double up on this recipe.  Apples and cinnamon..a perfect combination for fall.

{ Just a small note..these taste best when they are warm!}

Adapted From

Ingredients:

for bars:

1-1/4 cup flour

6 TBSP butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup apple butter

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup cinnamon chips

for glaze:

2 TBSP butter, melted

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1-2 TBSP water

Directions:

bars:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an 8in baking dish with non stick cooking spray.  In a bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until combined. Add in apple butter and  egg. Mix well.  In a separate bowl, whisk flour & baking soda.  Add flour mixture into brown sugar mixture gradually. Mixing until completely combined.  Fold in cinnamon chips.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

glaze:

Mix butter, powdered sugar and cinnamon.  Add a tablespoon a water one at a time until desired consistency is reached.  Drizzle over cooked bars.

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20 Easy Chicken Dishes

Chicken is a huge part of our dinner menu.  We eat it at least once or twice a week.   It could be baked, grilled, on a sandwich or in the crock pot.   So, I put together a nice, neat list of super easy dishes for you to check out of what we have cooked up and a few that are on my list to try:

1.  Baked Chicken Nuggets:

2.  Chicken Baked Mac n Cheese:

3. Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

4. Chicken Pot Pie

5. Chicken Tamale Bake

6. Chicken Terayaki Sliders

7. Honey Lemon Chicken

8. Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken

9. Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken 

10. Crock Pot Shredded Chicken with Onion Soup & Italian Dressing:

11.Crock Pot Taqueria Tacos:

Now, here are some from other bloggers that look really good and are on my list to try:

12.  White Chicken Enchiladas from Joyful Momma's Kitchen

Photo Credit: Joyful Momma's Kitchen

13.  BBQ Chicken Ranch Dip from Semi-Homemade Mom

Photo Credit: Semi Homemade Mom

14. Loaded Baked Potato & Chicken Casserole from My Sweet Little Steiner Family

Photo Credit: My Sweet Little Steiner Family

15. Baked Chicken Parmesean from Food Wishes

Photo Credit: Food Wishes

16. Bacon Wrapped  Honey BBQ Chicken from Bargain Bites

Photo Credit: Bargain Bites

17. Chicken Enchilada Puffs from Tidy Mom

Photo Credit: Tidy Mom

18. Chicken Salad from That's Some Good Cookin'

Photo Credit: That's Some Good Cookin

19. Sweet n Sour Chicken from Little Yellow Barn

Photo Credit: Little Yellow Barn

20. Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing from Foodie Crush

Photo Credit: Foodie Crush

 Enjoy :)

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{Crock Pot} Chocolate Lava Cake

I don't want to knock you guys out with crock pot recipes this week, but, this couldn't wait.   Now, this cake is not something you just whipped up and eat while watching TV at night.  OK, well, you could. But, if you are concerned at all about your sweet intake..you may want to have this be a special occasion cake only.   Like..getting a new outfit or perhaps celebrating you made dinner 5 nights in a row without ordering takeout.  You know..important stuff.  It is very rich and very chocolaty and very yummy.  Go find something to celebrate and then, make this.   You will not be disappointed!

Adapted From

Ingredients:

for cake:

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups flour

6 TBSP cocoa powder (unsweetened)

4 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk

4 TBSP melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

for fudge topping:

1-1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)

3 cups boiling water

Directions:

for cake:

Spray crock pot with non stick cooking spray.  In a mixing bowl, mix together cocoa powder, brown sugar, flour and baking powder.  Add in butter, vanilla and milk.  Mix until well combined.  Spread evenly on the bottom of the crock pot.

for fudge topping:

Mix brown sugar and cocoa powder until well combined.  Spread evenly over batter in crock pot.  Pour boiling water on top of it.  {Do not stir}.

Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.  Let cake cool about 1/2 hour before serving.

Linked Up at: Foodie Friends Friday Weekend Potluck Recipe Roundup

Ham and Eggs Cups

After the success with Bacon & Egg Muffins, I decided to try something similar, but, different for weekday breakfast.  These tasty cups are another great breakfast dish that can be made ahead and tossed in the freezer.  So, on your crazy mornings, you just pop them in the microwave and warm them up.  Easy Peasy!

{ you don't have to scrambled your eggs, that is just what we prefer, you can also just crack an egg in the middle of the ham and bake until eggs are set }

Ingredients:

Makes 8 cups

4-6 slices of ham

6 eggs

1/4-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

black pepper, to taste preference

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray muffin tin pan with non stick cooking spray. Line bottom of of muffin tin with individual slices of ham. { You may need to cut ham slice in half for a better fit }. In a skillet, scramble 6 eggs as desired.   Scoop scrambled eggs evenly on top of each slice of ham.  Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted and ham is baked.

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{Crock Pot} Cheesy Chicken

I am starting to get hooked on my crock pot {or slow cooker if you prefer}.  Especially on very busy Saturdays when there are a million things to do and by the time dinner rolls around, I am not anywhere interested in cooking.  So, toss something in the crock pot, get everything done around the house, spend time with family  and it's ready to go.  Works fabulous without any work at all.
This is so far the easiest thing that has been cooked up in my crock pot.  Just chicken, 2 kinds of soup,sour cream and some garlic powder.  That's it!  It is delicious chicken in a creamy cheese sauce and goes great served over rice, or noodles.

Adapted From

Ingredients:
1 & 1/4lbs boneless chicken breast
1/4 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
garlic powder, to taste preference

Directions:
Spray crock pot with non stick cooking spray. Place chicken in pot. In a mixing bowl, combine soups, sour cream and garlic powder until mixed.  Pour over chicken. Cover with lid.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours.


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{So Simple} Herb Stuffing

If you are looking for a super duper easy side dish to go with just about anything...here it is!  I know that alot of people only eat stuffing around the holidays, but, we eat it pretty regularly.  It's a nice break from rice/noodles/potatoes routine.  This can be baked up in a casserole dish or you can stuff your turkey {or chicken} with it.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

3 cups dried bread cubes

1/4 cup chicken broth

1/2 tsp ground sage

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 8in casserole dish with non stick cooking spray.

In  a skillet, melt butter and saute onion until tender. Add celery and cook until softened.  Stir in bread cubes, chicken broth, sage, garlic salt and salt/pepper.  Mix well.  Bake in prepared dish for 25 minutes.

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Menu Planning Monday

Here's what up around our kitchen this week:

Monday:   Pork Stir Fry with  Baked Wonton Chips

Tuesday:  Mini Cheesy Taco Cups with Rice

Wednesday:  Grilled Cheese with Tater Tots

Thursday: Homemade Pizza

Friday: Leftover/Grocery Shopping or Take Out

For Breakfast:

Banana Burrito

Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins

Thanks for stopping by. Have a good week!

Linking up to: I'm an Organizing Junkie & Stone Gable Tasty Menu

Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Filling

A word of advice on this recipe..do not...I repeat..do not make these when it is 90 degrees outside and it is so humid that you feel as if you moved to a tropical jungle.   Now, if you are having a serious whoopie pie craving, like myself, you could tough it out and deal with melting marshmallow fluff going every which way in your kitchen creating a huge mess which you would have to clean...in the 90 degree heat. But, it would be soooo worth it when you eat one of these.

Also, two things about this recipe that made me say mmmm...

1. On my huge container of marshmallow fluff..it is labeled " FAT FREE!!!"   Now, in my opinion..if you are buying this monster size container of  marshmallow fluff..fat content is not perhaps a concern of yours.  But, it is labeled this way to possibly give the illusion that this is somewhat healthy.  Do people really believe that?  Interesting.

2. On the page that I found this recipe.  These are labeled as a  healthy snack for kids.  These do  1/2 cup spinach puree in them.  But, also, a stick of butter, so, not so sure about the healthy part of it.  Kid friendly? Yep..mine fight over them.

Just not to be understood though....these are awesome.  You can not taste any spinach and the the filling isn't overly-sugary.   A very tasty treat for everyone and your kids do get some veggies from it.

Adapted From

Ingredients:

for pies:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1-1/4 cup brown sugar

2 egg whites

1/2 cup spinach puree ( I used baby food!)

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup buttermilk

for filling:

1 stick butter

1-1/4 cup powder sugar

2 cups marshmallow creme

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Pies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cooking sheet with non stick cooking spray or cover with parchment paper.   In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda & baking powder. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix oil and brown sugar until well combined. Add egg whites. Then, add in spinach puree and vanilla.  Alternate pouring flour mixture and buttermilk into wet ingredients.  Starting with flour and ending with flour.  Mix until well combined.   Spoon tablespoons of batter onto prepared cooking sheet about 2 ins apart.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until they spring back when touched. Cool completely before filling.

filling:

Mix all ingredients and spoon on half of cooled pies.  Top with remaining pies.

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Taco Pizza

Happy Day-After Labor Day! How was every one's long weekend? Mine was very productive.  I realized that my house was due for a severe cleaning.  That's how Mr Plain & I spent Saturday. Cleaning...not too exciting.  I also re-organized our mudroom porch.  A bit of a task, but, it's almost done. Mr Plain has a few projects to complete on his next long weekend. Then, it will be complete.  He will be cursing Pinterest in no time. The rest of the weekend..just spending it with family.  It was pretty nice. Except for the whole cleaning the house from top to bottom part. 

Now..let's talk food.  You didn't think I would let too much time pass before another taco recipe, did you? 

This is staple on our dinner menu.  I serve it with rice and some nacho chips.  It's quite tasty and an easy, quick dish perfect for a weeknight meal. 

Adapted From

Ingredients:

1 tube- refrigerated pizza dough

1 lb ground turkey {or ground beef or chicken} 

1 envelope taco seasoning or homemade 

1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 -1 cup re fried beans

Garnish:

lettuce,tomato,salsa,olives

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non stick cooking spray. Spread pizza dough on cookie sheet.  In a skillet, cook meat of your choice and season according to package.  Spread desired amount of re-fried beans on dough.  Top with meat and cheese.  Bake for 15 minutes or until brown.

Garnish as desired.

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